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Michael Carvin

Michael Carvin is a drummer of extraordinary talent, inventiveness and technique. His mastery affords him the ability to handle any musical situation and to skillfully pass on his knowledge of the instrument to an ever increasing number of students internationally.

Born in Houston, Texas, Carvin's musical training began at age six with his father, one of the top drummers in Houston. By the age of twelve,Carvin began playing professionally and won what would be the first of five consecutive Texas rudimental championships. Mr. Carvin's diverse career has included two years as a staff drummer with Motown Records and extensive studio and television work on the West Coast.

Joining Freddie Hubbard's band in 1973, Mr. Carvin moved to New York where he quickly gained a reputation as one of the most formidable drummers on the jazz scene. A prime example of his work with Hubbard can be seen on the Mosaic Records/Jazz Icons DVD released in fall 2011 featuring Carvin with Hubbard’s very first touring group.

In addition to leading his own bands, Carvin's vast playing andrecording experience includes work with Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Jackie McLean, Hank Jones, McCoy Tyner, Illinois Jacquet, Pharoah Sanders, Bobby Hutcherson, James Moody, Hampton Hawes, Ruth Brown, Johnny Hartman, Abbey Lincoln, Jimmy Smith, Hugh Masekela, Alice Coltrane, Cecil Taylor, Charles Brown, Terumasa Hino, Bobby Watson, Billy Bang, and many others.

Michael Carvin has established himself as one of the world's most respected drum teachers and clinicians. He's attracted students from Europe, South America, Australia, Japan and India. The alumni of the Michael Carvin School of Drumming in New York are among the elite drummers in music today. A list of some of his students is available here.

Mr. Carvin has recorded on over 250 albums. He endorses Pearl Drums and Istanbul Cymbals. The Michael Carvin Signature Drum Stick, which he designed, is available through Pro-Mark.

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Extended Analysis

The Boyé Multi-National Crusade For Harmony

Read "The Boyé Multi-National Crusade For Harmony" reviewed by Stefano Merighi


Che trionfo per Julius Hemphill! A dispetto delle poche pagine--o righe--che le recenti storie del jazz dedicano al maestro di Fort Worth, Hemphill emerge da questo cofanetto di inediti come sassofonista-improvvisatore-compositore tra i più profondi della musica afroamericana nei decenni compresi tra gli anni '70 e '90. E questa preziosa edizione non solo torna a far luce su repertori e organici già conosciuti dai cultori, ma porta in superficie una gran mole di musica fresca, sorprendente, che ...

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Album Review

Julius Hemphill: The Boyé Multi-National Crusade For Harmony

Read "The Boyé Multi-National Crusade For Harmony" reviewed by Mark Corroto


There is something inherently objectionable when a billionaire acquires an artistic masterpiece by say, Leonardo DaVinci or Claude Monet, only to sequester it from public view. You might feel the same about Julius Hemphill's recordings Dogon A.D. (Mbari, 1972) and 'Coon Bid'ness (Arista/Freedom, 1975). Both five star recordings, now out of print, cost a small fortune to acquire. Years ago saxophonist Tim Berne, a disciple of Hemphill, endeavored to rescue the saxophonist's Blue Boyé (Mbari, 1977) by rereleasing it in ...

9
Album Review

Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes: Expansions

Read "Expansions" reviewed by Chris May


If ever a first wave jazz-funk album deserved a 180gm vinyl reissue in 2020 it is this near masterpiece. It was originally released in 1975 on Flying Dutchman, the label Bob Thiele set up after he left Impulse!. Jazz-funk divided the jazz world in the 1970s as much as free-jazz had done a decade earlier. And with reason. Much of it was crap. Just like a lot of jazz-rock was crap. More or less desperate attempts by ...

6
Album Review

Michael Carvin Experience: Flash Forward

Read "Flash Forward" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


In 2006, oft-unsung drummer Michael Carvin broke a decade-long silence as a leader on record, releasing one of the strongest dates of his career through Marsalis Music's Honor Series. Fast-forward eight years and you have Flash Forward, another quartet-based album that stands as a testament to Carvin's skills as drummer, bandleader, and musical catalyst. Flash Forward is a fresh musical start for Carvin. It's his first release for the Motema Music imprint and the first album to ...

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Interview

Michael Carvin: The Making of a Master

Read "Michael Carvin: The Making of a Master" reviewed by Bob Kenselaar


With a career that spans half a century, master drummer Michael Carvin has plenty to look back on, although he's mostly a forward-looking man. To say he's been prolific puts it mildly. By his own count, he's made some 250 recordings and toured the world five times. He has worked with such major jazz luminaries as Jackie McLean, Dizzy Gillespie, Pharaoh Sanders, and Freddie Hubbard, among many others, in addition to fronting his own bands and recording ten albums as ...

160
Album Review

Michael Carvin: Marsalis Music Honors Michael Carvin

Read "Marsalis Music Honors Michael Carvin" reviewed by Robert R. Calder


Other than the ability to record musicians like drummers Jimmy Cobb and the less well-known Michael Carvin, what status could allow this young label led by a lion (Branford Marsalis) to be said to honor either of these men? Actually the company is honoring itself, and doing some justice to the veteran Carvin, whose sometime partner Jackie McLean has alas just died. Those two are credited with producing one masterpiece (Antiquity, Steeplechase 1974), and Carvin himself is acknowledged with a ...

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Contest

Enter the "Michael Carvin Experience - Flash Forward" Giveaway!

Enter the "Michael Carvin Experience - Flash Forward" Giveaway!

Source: All About Jazz

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the Motema Music “Michael Carvin Experience - Flash Forward“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on September 29th. Click here to enter the contest (Tracking Michael Carvin at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.) Good luck! Your Friends at Motema Music About Flash Forward Having played with many of the jazz giants in his impressive career (Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Freddie ...

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Recording

Marsalis Music Launches Honors Series: Jimmy Cobb & Michael Carvin

Marsalis Music Launches Honors Series: Jimmy Cobb & Michael Carvin

Source: All About Jazz

MARSALIS MUSIC LAUNCHES HONORS SERIES WITH TWO LEGENDARY DRUMMERS

Jimmy Cobb and Michael Carvin are featured in Quartet Recording

Having established a commitment to documenting the music of emerging jazz artists, Marsalis Music now directs its focus to established, if often underappreciated, giants with a new Honors Series of recordings. Drummers Jimmy Cobb and Michael Carvin launch this ongoing project on March 7, 2006 with quartet discs produced by label head Branford Marsalis.

“We want to put the spotlight on ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Boyé...

New World Records
2021

buy

Then And Again, Here...

Sunnyside Records
2021

buy

Expansions

Ace Records UK
2020

buy

Flash Forward

Motéma Music
2014

buy

Marsalis Music Honors...

Marsalis Music
2006

buy

Each One Teach One

Creative Sources
1994

buy

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